Why have some players not been selected for New Zealand?

Darren Bravo has the best Test average abroad of any West Indian cricketer, although admittedly his Test playing record is relatively short. He is one of a handful of West Indian cricketers with a double century in New Zealand, where runs have not, historically, flowed freely for West Indian batsmen. Chris Gayle is the only West Indian batsman with a triple Test century away from home. The reader need not be reminded that no country has produced more high class batsmen in the second half of the twentieth century. Anyone who has a ‘feel’ for the game of cricket and has watched Evin Lewis bat in the last year or so knows he is as close to genius as you will find among young batsmen, especially left-handers. If a team needs a wicket badly in any cricket match it is difficult to think of any player you would prefer on your team at that moment than Sunil Narine.

None of these players has been selected to represent the region in the upcoming series against New Zealand. And what is the reason? West Indian cricket officials do not entertain the word ‘why?’ in their interaction with fans and players, but as the Trinidadians used to say it appears “We like it so”.

Arbitrary decision-making is the hallmark of the conduct of West Indian officials in cricket. Can we avoid it in other areas of life? It is a very important, indeed a critical question, as its avoidance is a necessary condition for rationality in public life.